Daily Republican., 1887-10-27
BArHs.
Dr. Coan, In Harpsr's tor Ootobsr.

Dr. Coan, In harpsf's for Ootobsr.
The essential function of cold baths
is to call upon the vital force, the Wis.
ceral and organic vitality. This is a
very different thing from muscular
force, though in we'll balanced con-
stituuon the latter should imply the
former. Vital force Is roughly meas
urablc by the individuals power Of re-
sistance to cold; the person who could
live the longest under snow drift, or
melt the most ice in bath tub without
injury to himself, would have the
most Of this form of vital force. Some
people who have no special muscular
development would yet bear such a
test very creditably. The cold bath
calls upon and develops, if rightly
used, this power Of resistance, and il,
like any vital junction or organ, IL
strengthened by constant practice.
1t anything has been gained during
the last fifteen years in the study Of
balneology, it is in better knowledge
of the conditions of heat and cold in
the human system, and of their effects
as applied through baths. must no,
stray away into the domain OF purely
physiological research. But an impor
tant point is this: cold baths attack
and reduce the temperature of the
body, and 1t is by the instant and pow
erful demand that they make upon the
organism for the restoration of the lost
heat that they stimulate and develop
the vital powers. The cooling of the
skin produces an increased oxygenA.
tion and consequent warming of the
blood; the sensihlity of the superficial
nerves is fret heightened, then dimin-
ished, then heightened again; ;the pulse
| quickens ct first, then slows. The
skin, the motor and the sensitive
nerves, the heart the muscular system
undergo a powerful stimulus from the
cold, and the glow of warmth that re
Esults is called the reaction.
| No cold bath is beneficial that doei
not produce this genial warmth on
quitting it. Stimulus, cooling, reac
ton these are the essential functions
OF the cold bath when taken in moder
ate duration by persons of reasonably
strong constitutions II it be too lens
protracted, a sense of taintness ccme
on, the lips become blue, the bre ath
ing difficult, and on em erging from tn
water shivering continues instead O
the occurrence of warm reaction.
| River bathing and sea bathing ar
the forms In which cold bathing !
most frequently pracuced, at least b.
those who do not dwell In cities; bu
the temperatures both OF sea and river
during the summer and the autumn
months, are as often those OF the tenn
perate bath in its lowest ranges (6
deg. TO rs deg. Fahr. as OF the coll
bath. The sensation OF chill ON enter
ing, often distressing even at the highe
Temperature just mentioned, is 500
succeeded by warm glow; the waite
that felt 30 cold on entering 1t seem
much warmer, and tho reaction of tn
blood 10 The surface, especially II th
bather take active exercise by swim
ming or diving, produces such feel
ing Of comfort that the temptation
olen TO overdo the bath and to risk 1t
tonic effect bv remaining in the waite
too long. 1t is far better to enter
cold bath when you are well warme,
than to cool off according TO the dul
routine prescription of the books. T
cool off before you enter the water
simply to reduce your power OF resist
ing the cold.
For a cold SWIMMING bath such q
1 have defined it, fifteen minutes i
stream or sea will generally be enough
though persons of strong constitution
may remain in twice as long, or NOR
than twice. Practiced swimmers o
bathers are rule for themselves il
such matters. A cold bath indoor
should not generally last over five .
en- minutes, because the active eXer
else of swimming is wanting. Th
bath should be followed immediatel,
by strong frictions with coarse towels
and a prompt resumption of one
clothing. The best time OF the da
for u cold bath is about three houl
after either the morning or the mic
day meal. The aged, delicate and II
very young should not use cold bath
nor should those affected with hea
disease, nor the an9mic, except wi,
great care and moderation. They al
essentially tonic for strong and
stimulant curative for sluggish ten
peramen ts.